Daniel – The Only Unit With, a Bridge, a Path, and a Ladder
By Pati Egan
The next group of units built after the original four units included Daniel. It was located on the Camp Road and up on the rocks. A Zipline now leads from the location of the old staff cabin to Lake St. Isaac. Daniel was one of the closer units.
Daniel’s color has always been black. Its Spirit Animal is an Eagle. The staff cabin was very close to the cliff edge.
Since the unit was so close to the edge of the cliff another way to get up to the unit was created. A wooden ladder, that was a convenient short cut, laid against the rock face. It was not secured to the rock and could be easily moved. It was not unusual for units like Brébeuf, Amantacha, or Tekakwitha to “take” the ladder. A familiar announcement at breakfast was for the Unit Leader of Daniel to say, “If anyone has seen Daniel’s ladder, would they please return it.” The ladder would usually turn up at lunch in the lost and found. The Unit Leader would have to sing a song to get it back.
Since Daniel sat primarily on rock, it could get very warm. When it rained the rocks could get slick. I recall that the cabins seemed very spread out, but this could be my 12-year-old, first-year camper brain thinking they were far apart. Upon my sister’s recommendation I chose Daniel my first year as a camper. My cabin seemed so far away from the other cabins. Daniel was an incredible place to star gaze. I imagine it was the highest unit.
The path most frequently used to get to Daniel has a little bridge crossing the entrance now. To get to the old location of the Archery Range one climbed up a couple of rocks and went straight back to find Daniel
Three Way Choice
Daniel campers could take the path, the bridge, or the ladder. The bridge is long gone. Daniel was moved and rebuilt in the early 1980s. I don’t recall seeing the bridge or the ladder when I was Program Director in the early 1980s. The path was the only way left to get to old Daniel. Now that same path leads to the Zipline that goes over the road, through the woods, and ends in the lake.
Daniel definitely needed a rebuild. The cabins were very old, the rocks could get very slick in the rain, and the sunshine was very abundant. The treehouse units were becoming more popular.
The Best Fishing Spot in Camp!
The new location of Daniel is right on Lake Echon. The turnoff to Daniel is on the Dam Road between Lake Echon and Lake St. Isaac. The shore line was an awesome place to bass fish. Many a camper specifically chose new Daniel for the fishing.
Star Gazing or Fishing
All of the units have a story to tell – old Daniel – magnificent celestial happening high above the unit – new Daniel – incredible life below the water line. Change is what keeps Camp fresh and keeps us coming back year after year.
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